Power port terminal

ABSTRACT

A power port terminal formed by stamping from a blank of conductive material comprises a contact receiving socket portion and an integral mounting portion. The socket includes a web with a plurality of beams thereon. Each of the beams has a curved surface with a bend therein. The inner surface of the beams on the bends thereof define a substantially continuous cylindrical contact surface at a predetermined point along the reference axis of the terminal. The contact surface has a predetermined constricted dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to the reference axis, this dimension being the most constricted dimension along the reference axis of the terminal. The terminal is thereby able to accommodate a pin of any desired axial length. The trailing mounting portion has a set of mounting legs thereon that, the preferred instance, extend generally perpendicular to the reference axis of the terminal. Latch tabs may be provided one or more of the beams.

This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 07/843,261, filed Feb.12, 1992, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a socket-type terminal for use ineffecting a relatively high-amperage power connection with a male pin ofany desired length.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A power port terminal for interconnecting a backplane with a male pinplug may be formed in any one of a variety of ways. U.S. Pat. No.4,702,707 (Hillbish) illustrates a power terminal that includes a baseto which a mating component having a socket may be attached. In thisterminal the base and a portion of the mating component are formed asscrew machined parts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,357 (Foley) shows a powerconnector in which a socket defined from a crown band of spring contactbeams is inserted into a block of conductive material. In both of thesearrangements the contact beams of the terminal extend around the entire360° periphery of the male pin. However, since one end of the terminalis closed, the socket may accept a pin having only a predeterminedlimited axial dimension.

The power terminal shown at page 334, 335 of the DuPont ElectronicsInterconnect and Packaging Catalogue, August 1988, is also a machinedpart having a socket that may accept a pin having only a predeterminedlimited axial dimension. This part also includes a snap-ring latcharrangement which is received about the socket of the terminal and whichcooperates with a housing to retain the terminal.

The terminal shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,400 (Evans), assigned to theassignee of the present invention, is formed from a stamped blank ofconductive material. Again, however, it appears that the socket portionof the terminal is blocked at an axially rearward point by a wire crimpbarrel and an insulation crimp barrel, effectively limiting the axialdimension of a pin receivable in the socket.

The power terminal forming a part of the DuPont HPC Connector System, asshown at page 6 of Bulletin 712, January 1987, is fabricated from astamped blank of conductive material. Although in this terminal thelength of the pin receivable by the socket is not limited, the socketregion does not fully surround the pin when the same is receivedtherein.

In view of the foregoing it is believed advantageous to provide a socketformed from a stamped conductive material that both surrounds a male pinover substantially 360° of its periphery, and yet does not limit theaxial length of pin receivable therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a power port terminal formed bystamping from a blank of conductive material. The terminal comprises acontact receiving socket portion and an integral mounting portion. Theterminal has a reference axis extending therethrough. The contactreceiving socket portion includes a web with a plurality of beamsthereon. Each of the beams has a curved surface with a bend therein.When the terminal is formed the beams cooperate to form an axiallyextending tubular socket region. The inner surface of the beams on thebends thereof define a substantially continuous cylindrical contactsurface at a predetermined point along the reference axis within thetubular region. The contact surface is interrupted only by the spacingbetween the beams and is thus adapted to surround a male pin over 360°of its periphery. The cylindrical contact surface has a predeterminedconstricted dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to the referenceaxis, this dimension of the substantially continuous cylindrical contactsurface being the most constricted dimension along the reference axis ofthe terminal. The terminal is thereby able to accommodate a pin of anydesired axial length.

The trailing mounting portion has a set of mounting legs thereon. Themounting legs depend from the lateral flanges of a curved hood portion.The hood and flanges preferably surround substantially 270° of theperiphery of the pin. In the preferred instance the mounting legs extendgenerally perpendicular to the reference axis of the terminal.

One or more of the beams may have a latch tab thereon. The latch tabsengage with ribs provided in the terminal housing to secure the terminaltherewithin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detaileddescription thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this application and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, side and front elevation views of apower port terminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are, respectively, elevational views taken in sectionalong respective section lines 3--3, 4--4 and 5--5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a developed plan view of a blank used to from the terminalshown in FIGS. 1 through 5; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are, respectively, an isolated perspective view and a sideelevational view (in section) of a housing adapted to accept theterminal of FIGS. 1 through 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the following detailed description similar reference numeralsrefer to similar elements in all figures of the drawings.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 shown is a power port terminal generallyindicated by reference character 10 in accordance with the presentinvention. The terminal 10 is formed by stamping from a blank of asuitable conductive material, such a phoshorous bronze material. Adeveloped view of the blank is illustrated in FIG. 6. The terminal 10includes a contact receiving portion 12 and an integral mounting portion14. A reference axis 10A extends through the terminal 10.

The contact receiving portion 12 includes a web 16 from which extend aplurality of beams, or fingers, 20. The beams are preferablyequiangularly arranged about the axis 10A. In the embodiment illustratedfive beams 20 are shown, each beam being angularly separated from theangularly adjacent beam by a gap 20G (FIG. 2). When the terminal 10 isfully formed (in a manner to be described) each of the beams 20 has acurved inside surface 20S with an inward bend 20B located axiallytherealong. The portion of the beams 20 forward of the bends 20B flareto define a funnel-like pin guide 24.

The beams 20 cooperate to form an axially extending tubular socketregion 26. The socket region 26 is thus adapted to surround a male pinguided therein over 360° of its periphery. The inner surface 20S of thebeams 20 at the bends 20B define a substantially continuous cylindricalcontact surface 28 lying at a predetermined point 30 along the referenceaxis 10A within the tubular socket region 26. The contact surface 28 is,as may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, interrupted only by the gap 20Gbetween angularly adjacent beams 20.

The cylindrical contact surface 28 defined by the bends 20B of each beam20 defines a circle centered on the reference axis 10A of the terminal.The surface 28 thus imparts a predetermined constricted dimension 36(i.e., the diameter of the surface 28) measured in a plane perpendicularto the reference axis 10A. This dimension 36 of the substantiallycontinuous cylindrical contact surface 28 is the most constricteddimension along the reference axis 10A of the terminal. The through boreof the socket region 26 of the terminal 10 is thus effectivelyunlimited. The terminal 10 is thereby able to accommodate a pin of anydesired axial length.

In the preferred embodiment two of the beams 20 are provided with latchtabs 38. As may be seen in FIG. 2 the tabs 38 extend outwardly beyondthe basic outer diametric dimension of the contact receiving portion 12.As an alternative it should be understood that only a single latch tabor more than two latch tabs may be provided as desired. The tabs 38 maybe conveniently located on any of the beams 20. In the preferredarrangement (FIG. 6) the tab(s) 38 are formed as appendages disposedaxially between the laterally outward beam(s) 20' and the mountingportion 14. The tabs 38 may be additionally or alternately formed bypunching through the material of the web 16.

The trailing mounting portion 14 extends rearwardly from the web 16. Themounting portion 14 includes a hood region 40 melding into a pair oflateral flanges 42. As is best seen in FIG. 4 and 5 the hood 40 and theflanges 42 preferably extend substantially 270° about the reference axis10A of the terminal 10. The flanges 42 are bent outwardly, as at 44. Aplurality of mounting legs 46 depending from each flange 42 defines aset of mounting legs for the terminal 10. The mounting legs 46 eachextend downwardly a substantial distance below the contact receivingportion 12.

In the preferred embodiment, the mounting legs 46 extend generallyperpendicularly to the reference axis 10A of the terminal. The mountinglegs 46 may be received by plated through bores provided in the surfaceof a substrate whereby electrical interconnection may be effectedbetween the terminal 10 and a backplane on the substrate. It should beunderstood that is within the contemplation of the present invention toarrange the legs 46 such that they align parallel to the reference axis10A of the terminal. Such an arrangement is suggested in dot-dash linesin FIG. 6.

The terminal 10 is formed from the blank B shown in developed view inFIG. 6. The blank B is attached to a carrier strip (not shown) by a tailT. The blank is made by a stamping operation and the terminal 10 isformed therefrom by bending the blank over a mandrel, as is understoodby those skilled in the art.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 the terminal 10 is received within ahousing 50 formed from a block of a suitable insulating material. Thehousing 50 has an through passage 52 therein. Locating guide members 54extend axially along the walls of the passage 52 to position theterminal 10 (shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 8) within the housing.Locking ribs 56 are disposed about the open end of the passage 52. Theterminal 10 is inserted into the passage 52 in the housing 50 in thedirection of the arrow 58. The latches 38 on the beams 20 areresiliently deflected as the terminal 10 is inserted into the housing50. Once axially past the locking ribs 54 the latches 38 snap intolocking position behind the locking ribs 56. The circumferential extentof the locking ribs 54 is such that the tabs 38 will engage against arib 54 to retain the terminal 10, once inserted, within the housing 50.

Since the dimension 36 of the surface 28 is the most constricteddimension of the socket a terminal 10 in accordance with the presentinvention presents no impediment to the axial advance of a male pin.Thus a pin having any desired length may be received coaxially with thereference axis of the terminal. Such a capability is believedadvantageous when using the terminal of the present invention in aso-called "first break-last break" interconnection system.

Those skilled in the art having the teachings of the present inventionas hereinabove set forth may effect numerous modifications thereto. Itshould be understood that such modifications lie within thecontemplation of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A female-type power port terminal for connectingto a male lug of a wide range of lengths and cross-sectional dimensions,comprising:a contact receiving portion having a web and a plurality offingers that are unitary with said web, said fingers being arranged toform an axially extending socket that is aligned about a reference axis,each of said fingers having a free end that is distal from said web,said free ends being unconnected to each other except through said web,each of said fingers further having a bend therein proximate said freeend, said bends together defining a contact surface that is constructedand arranged to contact a male plug that is inserted into said socket,said contact surface being the most constricted point along saidreference axis in said terminal; and a mounting portion that is unitarywith and extends longitudinally from said contact receiving portion andis formed together with said contact receiving portion from a singleblank of conductive material, said mounting portion comprising a hoodregion that is curved about said reference axis by substantially 270degrees to define a space that is coextensive and aligned with saidsocket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug to passinto said space, said mounting portion further comprising a plurality ofmounting legs thereon for mounting the terminal on a substrate; wherebysaid terminal, as a result of said unconnected free ends, is constructedto accept male plugs within a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions,and, as a result of said open space defined by said hood portion, isconstructed to accept a male plug of a wide range of lengths.
 2. Thepower port terminal of claim 1 wherein the mounting legs extendgenerally perpendicularly to the reference axis.
 3. The power portterminal of claim 1 wherein the mounting legs extend generally parallelto the reference axis.
 4. The power port terminal of claim 3 wherein atleast one of the beams has a latch tab thereon.
 5. The power portterminal of claim 3 wherein at least two of the beams has a latch tabthereon.
 6. The power port terminal of claim 2 wherein at least one ofthe beams has a latch tab thereon.
 7. The power port terminal of claim 2wherein at least two of the beams has a latch tab thereon.
 8. The powerport terminal of claim 1 wherein at least one of the beams has a latchtab thereon.
 9. The power port terminal of claim 1 wherein at least twoof the beams has a latch tab thereon.
 10. A female-type power portterminal for connecting to a male lug of a wide range of lengths andcross-sectional dimensions, comprising:a contact receiving portionhaving a web and a plurality of fingers that are unitary with said web,said fingers being arranged to form an axially extending socket that isaligned about a reference axis, each of said fingers having a free endthat is distal from said web, said free ends being unconnected to eachother except through said web, each of said fingers further having abend therein proximate said free end, said bends together defining acontact surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a male plugthat is inserted into said socket, said contact surface being the mostconstricted point along said reference axis in said terminal; and amounting portion that is unitary with and extends longitudinally fromsaid contact receiving portion and is formed together with said contactreceiving portion from a single blank of conductive material, saidmounting portion comprising a hood region that is curved about saidreference axis to define a space that is coextensive and aligned withsaid socket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug topass into said space, said mounting portion further comprising at leastthree mounting legs thereon form mounting the terminal on a substrate,said mounting legs each extending downwardly a substantial distancebelow said contact receiving portion; whereby said terminal, as a resultof said unconnected free ends, is constructed to accept male plugswithin a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions, and, as a result ofsaid open space defined by said hood portion, is constructed to accept amale plug of a wide range of lengths.